This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/08/liberal-democrats-senate-seat-nsw

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Liberal Democrats look set to win Senate seat for NSW Liberal Democrats look set to win Senate seat for NSW
(10 days later)
A party whose name strongly resembles that of the Liberals and which found itself placed first on the New South Wales ballot paper seems likely to see its leader elected to the Senate after its vote share increased from 1.81% in 2010 to 8.87% this time.A party whose name strongly resembles that of the Liberals and which found itself placed first on the New South Wales ballot paper seems likely to see its leader elected to the Senate after its vote share increased from 1.81% in 2010 to 8.87% this time.
The Liberal Democrats’ David Leyonhjelm is a pro-gun candidate who believes lives could have been saved during the Sandy Hook massacre in the US if the teachers had been armed. With 69.29% of the vote counted, he looks to have won the fifth of six NSW Senate seats – meaning he has done better than Liberal rising star Arthur Sinodinos.The Liberal Democrats’ David Leyonhjelm is a pro-gun candidate who believes lives could have been saved during the Sandy Hook massacre in the US if the teachers had been armed. With 69.29% of the vote counted, he looks to have won the fifth of six NSW Senate seats – meaning he has done better than Liberal rising star Arthur Sinodinos.
The Liberals’ Marise Payne is in the number one spot, with Labor’s Bob Carr second, the Nationals’ John Williams third, and Labor’s Doug Cameron fourth.The Liberals’ Marise Payne is in the number one spot, with Labor’s Bob Carr second, the Nationals’ John Williams third, and Labor’s Doug Cameron fourth.
Leyonhjelm ran for the NSW state Senate in the 2011 election as a member of the Outdoor Recreation party and he has also been a member of the Shooters party. He resigned from the Liberal party in 1996 over John Howard's gun reforms after the Port Arthur massacre.Leyonhjelm ran for the NSW state Senate in the 2011 election as a member of the Outdoor Recreation party and he has also been a member of the Shooters party. He resigned from the Liberal party in 1996 over John Howard's gun reforms after the Port Arthur massacre.
He has written extensively on his beliefs, including a piece on gun reforms following the shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut, in which 20 children aged between six and seven and six staff members were murdered by 20-year-old Adam Lanza with high-powered weapons.He has written extensively on his beliefs, including a piece on gun reforms following the shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in Connecticut, in which 20 children aged between six and seven and six staff members were murdered by 20-year-old Adam Lanza with high-powered weapons.
“If America had not declared its schools to be gun-free zones, one of the school's teachers at Sandy Hook may have been legally carrying a gun and thus able to save many lives,” Leyonhjelm wrote.“If America had not declared its schools to be gun-free zones, one of the school's teachers at Sandy Hook may have been legally carrying a gun and thus able to save many lives,” Leyonhjelm wrote.
“This tragedy should be a wakeup call to those who want to prevent them from occurring again. Arming the good guys is how you prevent the bad guys from causing harm.”“This tragedy should be a wakeup call to those who want to prevent them from occurring again. Arming the good guys is how you prevent the bad guys from causing harm.”
His Liberal Democrat party advocates the removal of government restrictions on people’s lives. It believes in the right to carry guns for protection after reference checks, the legalisation of marijuana, a 20% flat income tax rate and opening up Australia to foreign investment in agricultural land.His Liberal Democrat party advocates the removal of government restrictions on people’s lives. It believes in the right to carry guns for protection after reference checks, the legalisation of marijuana, a 20% flat income tax rate and opening up Australia to foreign investment in agricultural land.
His recently suggested solution, first discussed by Nobel laureate Prof Gary Becker, to asylum seekers arriving by boat was to institute a fee, because, his argument went, most boat people were economic refugees.His recently suggested solution, first discussed by Nobel laureate Prof Gary Becker, to asylum seekers arriving by boat was to institute a fee, because, his argument went, most boat people were economic refugees.
“In the Australian context the fee should be set at a level that makes it more attractive than paying a smuggler, after taking into account the risk of drowning at sea, detention upon arrival and the (admittedly small) prospect of being deported. While it is difficult to be sure exactly what that might be, a figure of around $50,000 seems about right,” he wrote.“In the Australian context the fee should be set at a level that makes it more attractive than paying a smuggler, after taking into account the risk of drowning at sea, detention upon arrival and the (admittedly small) prospect of being deported. While it is difficult to be sure exactly what that might be, a figure of around $50,000 seems about right,” he wrote.
Leyonhjelm said a recent interim Senate report into foreign investment which expressed concerns about the sale of Graincorp and agricultural land to foreign companies was “jumping at shadows”.Leyonhjelm said a recent interim Senate report into foreign investment which expressed concerns about the sale of Graincorp and agricultural land to foreign companies was “jumping at shadows”.
“That a few other countries have tightened restrictions on foreign investment in agriculture, which the committee seemed to think was relevant, is no reason for Australia to do it. Indeed, it probably gives us more reason not to,” he said.“That a few other countries have tightened restrictions on foreign investment in agriculture, which the committee seemed to think was relevant, is no reason for Australia to do it. Indeed, it probably gives us more reason not to,” he said.
In 2010 his party received 1.81% of the Senate vote. The AEC reports the Liberal Democrats as having received 8.87% this time.In 2010 his party received 1.81% of the Senate vote. The AEC reports the Liberal Democrats as having received 8.87% this time.
He was one of a record 110 candidates contesting the six Senate seats for NSW at Saturday’s election, with their order chosen by random ballot last month.He was one of a record 110 candidates contesting the six Senate seats for NSW at Saturday’s election, with their order chosen by random ballot last month.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.